Rwanda unveils instant national digital payment system, eKash
Rwanda has adopted a national digital instant payment system effective Tuesday, expected to advance financial inclusion in the country through one secure platform, according to the National Bank of Rwanda.
In a statement issued late Monday, the central bank said the system dubbed e-Kash provides a common instant payment infrastructure that enables customers to send, receive, and make payments across licensed financial institutions in a more accessible, reliable, affordable, and inclusive manner.
“Effective July 14 July 2026, Person-to-Person (P2P) interoperable transfers will be processed through eKash. Customers will be able to send and receive money instantly between bank accounts and mobile wallets, including bank-to-bank, wallet-to-wallet, bank-to-wallet, and wallet-to-bank transfers,” the central bank said.
According to the central bank, the transaction limit through eKash is up to 10 million Rwandan francs (about 6,765 U.S, dollars) per transaction, while the maximum fee chargeable for a P2P transfer through eKash was set at 20 Rwandan francs per transaction.
The central bank said it expects the development to advance financial inclusion by making it easier for more Rwandans to access and use digital financial services across providers while contributing to a stronger, more connected and more resilient national digital payments ecosystem.
The system can be accessed through ones’ bank’s mobile app, mobile wallet, USSD or internet banking platforms, and customers will continue using their existing bank accounts and mobile wallets to make transfers.
